1. What is a misplaced modifier? How to fix misplaced modifiers One-word modifiers Phrase modifiers Clause modifiers Review A Review B Correcting Misplaced Modifiers

2. What is a misplaced modifier? In each position, almost modifies a different word. The placement of one little word can make a big difference. Most, but not all, of the students have finished. everyone has finished the test. Notice how the meaning of this sentence changes when almost is moved from one place to another. All of the students have come close to finishing. Almost Everyone hasfinished the test. almost

3. Noun Participial phrase A word, phrase, or clause that seems to modify the wrong word or word group in a sentence is called a misplaced modifier. What is a misplaced modifier? Are the guest houses visiting the coast? No, it is the tourists who visit the coast. The phrase visiting the coast should be placed closer to tourists. Tourists can stay in guest houses visiting the coast.

4. Was the deer on his way to work? Noun Prepositional phrase Some misplaced modifiers can be funny. What is a misplaced modifier? Bo saw a deer running over a hill on his way to work. Common sense tells us that Bo, not the deer, was on his way to work. But the noun deer is closer to the modifying phrase, so it sounds as though the deer is on his way to work.

5. The mayor said yesterday her opponent spoke honestly. A misplaced modifier that seems to modify either of two words is called a squinting modifier. What is a misplaced modifier? Squinting modifiers Verb Adverb Did the mayor say it yesterday? Or did her opponent speak yesterday?

6. Startled, the noise made the kitten jump in the air. A misplaced modifier can be a one-word adjective or adverb, a phrase, or a clause.adjectiveadverbphraseclause Participial phrase Adverb clause Adjective What is a misplaced modifier? She has a picture of her children sitting on her desk. Fred said before he left he would wash the dishes. OR

7. An adjective tells what kind, which one, or how many. What is a misplaced modifier? Adjective What kind? ship Which one?flower How many?pears this flower large ship four pears

8. An adverb tells where, when, how, or to what extent (how much, how long, or how often). What is a misplaced modifier? Adverb How? Where? She runs outside. She runs now. She runs fast. She always runs. When? To what extent?

9. A phrase is a group of related words that is used as a single part of speech does not contain both a verb and its subject on the plane What is a misplaced modifier? Phrase waiting for the mail to go bowling left alone has been studying during the movie

10. before he comes back home. A clause is a word group that contains a verb and its subject. What is a misplaced modifier? Clause VerbSubjectVerb Subject Verb Subject Verb Subject Dad will go to Miami He rented a carthat has low mileage. clause

11. 1.I pointed to the fish tank and showed Mom the baby angelfish swelling with pride. 2.There is a bracelet in the museum that is four thousand years old. 3.Janet said during soccer practice Paulette acted nervous. Identify the misplaced modifier in each of the following sentences. What is a misplaced modifier?

12. 1.I pointed to the fish tank and showed Mom the baby angelfish swelling with pride. Was the angelfish swelling with pride, or was I? What is a misplaced modifier? Identify the misplaced modifier in each of the following sentences.

13. 2.There is a bracelet in the museum that is four thousand years old. Is the museum four thousand years old? No, the bracelet is. The modifying clause should be placed closer to the word bracelet. What is a misplaced modifier? Identify the misplaced modifier in each of the following sentences.

14. 3.Janet said during soccer practice Paulette acted nervous. Did Janet make the statement about Paulette during soccer practice, or did Paulette act nervous during soccer practice? What is a misplaced modifier? Identify the misplaced modifier in each of the following sentences.

15. On Your Own [End of Section] What is a misplaced modifier? Determine whether the underlined word or phrase is a misplaced modifier. Write M for a misplaced modifier or C if the modifier is not misplaced. ___ 1.One observer sighted a plane through binoculars that she could not identify. ___ 2.Please tell Terry when he gets home Mom wants him to make dinner. ___ 3.Refreshed, we got an early start the next day.

16. Determine whether the underlined word or phrase is a misplaced modifier. Write M for a misplaced modifier, or C if the modifier is not misplaced. ___ 1.One observer sighted a plane through binoculars that she could not identify. ___ 2.Please tell Terry when he gets home Mom wants him to make dinner. ___ 3.Refreshed, we got an early start the next day. Answers What is a misplaced modifier? M M C

17. about wasps. Place modifying words, phrases, and clauses as near as possible to the words they modify. How to fix misplaced modifiers Where should these two phrases be placed in this sentence? Scott found a book. checking the shelves about wasps Scott found a bookChecking the shelves, Who was checking the shelves? Scott was. What is about wasps? The book is.

18. Mr. Reyes has read the essays but nothing else. Be especially careful to place these modifiers right before the word they modify, so that your meaning is clear. How to fix misplaced modifiers One-word modifiers almostevenhardlyjust merelynearlynotonly Mr. Reyes has read only the essays. Only Mr. Reyes has read the essays. Mr. Reyes, and no one else, has read the essays. = =

19. When a sentence contains several modifying phrases, follow these steps to make sure none of them are misplaced. How to fix misplaced modifiers Phrase modifiers Step 1: Find the basic sentence. Bill caught six fish on the lake in his favorite spot using fancy lures. Bill caught six fish.

20. How to fix misplaced modifiers Phrase modifiers Phrase 1: Bill caught six fish in his favorite spot This phrase should modify caught. Step 2: One at a time, insert the phrases near the word or words they modify. in his favorite spot.

21. Bill caught six fish in his favorite spoton the lake. How to fix misplaced modifiers Phrase modifiers Step 2: One at a time, insert the phrases near the word or words they modify. Phrase 2:on the lake This phrase should modify spot.

22. How to fix misplaced modifiers Phrase modifiers Step 2: One at a time, insert the phrases near the word or words they modify. Phrase 3:using fancy lures This phrase should modify Bill. Bill caught six fish in his favorite spot on the lake. Using fancy lures,

23. Sometimes the placement of a phrase has to be changed when you add another phrase. How to fix misplaced modifiers Phrase modifiers Kelly got a good look at the eagle using binoculars. Using binoculars, Kelly got a good look at the eagle. Kelly got a good look using binoculars. Was the eagle using binoculars? This sentence is correct, but look what happens when you add another phrase. at the eagle

24. Step 1: Determine which word or word group the clause should be modifying. Adjective clause Curt set the vase on the table that he had made. Adjective clause When a modifying clause seems to be misplaced, follow these steps to fix the sentence. How to fix misplaced modifiers Clause modifiers Curt set the vase on the table that he had made. OR The clause should modify vase.

25. Step 2: Determine whether a phrase or another clause is coming between the clause and the word it should be modifying. Prep. phrase How to fix misplaced modifiers Clause modifiers The prepositional phrase separates the adjective clause from the noun it modifies, vase. Adjective clause Curt set the vase on the table that he had made.on the table

26. Adjective clause How to fix misplaced modifiers Clause modifiers Step 3: Decide where to move the phrase or clause that is causing the confusion. Curt set the vase that he had made Moving the phrase to the end of the sentence eliminates the confusion. Now, the clause is next to word it modifies. on the table. Prep. phrase Adjective clause Curt set the vase on the table that he had made.on the table

27. Check your punctuation when you move a clause or a phrase. An introductory clause or phrase should usually be followed by a comma. How to fix misplaced modifiers Clause modifiers Before I dialed, I checked the number. Catching the pass, Mark scored a touchdown.

28. 1.Lee inherited that mirror from her aunt with the silver handle. 2.The team received a trophy that won the final game. 3.Sleeping soundly on the roof, even the airplanes didn’t wake the cat. How to fix misplaced modifiers Revise each sentence to correct the underlined misplaced modifier. Be prepared to explain your answer.

29. 1.Lee inherited that mirror with the silver handle from her aunt. How to fix misplaced modifiers The mirror—not the aunt—has a silver handle. Place the phrase close to the word it modifies, mirror. Revise each sentence to correct the underlined misplaced modifier. Be prepared to explain your answer.

30. How to fix misplaced modifiers The team—not the trophy—won the final game. Place the clause close to the word it modifies. Revise each sentence to correct the underlined misplaced modifier. Be prepared to explain your answer. 2.The team that won the final game received a trophy.

31. How to fix misplaced modifiers The cat—not the airplanes—was sleeping soundly on the roof. Place the phrase close to the word it modifies. Revise each sentence to correct the underlined misplaced modifier. Be prepared to explain your answer. 3.Even the airplanes didn’t wake the cat sleeping soundly on the roof.

32. Revise each sentence to correct the misplaced modifier. 1.At the meeting the mayor discussed the cost of draining the swamp with city council members. 2.My nephew told me that he wanted to become a doctor when he was six years old. 3.Brook and I spotted several deer kayaking down the river. 4.The coach said in the locker room the team had played their best. [End of Section] How to fix misplaced modifiers On Your Own

33. Revise each sentence to correct the misplaced modifier. 1.At the meeting the mayor discussed the cost of draining the swamp with city council members. 2.My nephew told me that he wanted to become a doctor when he was six years old. 3.Brook and I spotted several deer kayaking down the river. 4.The coach said in the locker room the team had played their best. How to fix misplaced modifiers Answers 1.At the meeting the mayor discussed with city council members the cost of draining the swamp. 2.When he was six years old my nephew told me that he wanted to become a doctor. 3.Kayaking down the river, Brook and I spotted several deer. 4.In the locker room, the coach said the team had played their best.

34. [End of Section] Identify the misplaced modifier in each sentence. 1.Mom promised if I would buy gas I could borrow her car. 2.The chipmunks hid the nuts they collected in the tree. 3.I found some letters my grandfather had written in the attic. 4.The weather forecaster said yesterday the winds would be dying down. 5.The car safely left the road that had a flat tire. Review A

35. 4.The weather forecaster said yesterday the winds would be dying down. 3.I found some letters my grandfather had written in the attic. 2.The chipmunks hid the nuts they collected in the tree. 1.Mom promised if I would buy gas I could borrow her car. Identify the misplaced modifier in each sentence. Review A 5.The car safely left the road that had a flat tire.

36. 4.Maya practiced the song she would sing onstage repeatedly. [End of Section] Revise each sentence to correct the misplaced modifier. Review B 1.According to the experts, the mummy had nearly been buried for four thousand years. 2.Alex saw a wild rabbit riding his bike on the trail. 3.Remind Lyle before our trip to Greece he must get his passport renewed. 5.When they got off the bus, the rows of shops attracted the tourists.

37. 4.Maya practiced the song she would sing onstage repeatedly. 1.According to the experts, the mummy had nearly been buried for four thousand years. 2.Alex saw a wild rabbit riding his bike on the trail. 3.Remind Lyle before our trip to Greece he must get his passport renewed. 5.When they got off the bus, the rows of shops attracted the tourists. Revise each sentence to correct the misplaced modifier. Review B Revise each sentence to correct the misplaced modifier. 4.Maya repeatedly practiced the song she would sing onstage. 1.According to the experts, the mummy had been buried for nearly four thousand years. 2.Riding his bike on the trail, Alex saw a wild rabbit. 3.Remind Lyle he must get his passport renewed before our trip to Greece. 5.The rows of shops attracted the tourists when they got off the bus.

38. The End